COVID-19 Vaccine Motivation, Willingness and Hesitancy of Health Majors University Students in Palestine, 2024
Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign hinges on the motivation and w... more Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign hinges on the motivation and willingness of the general population to be vaccinated. The purpose of this research was to determine the motivation, willingness, and hesitancy of Al-Quds University students enrolled in health majors to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as to detect their attitude toward COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to target students in health majors at Al-Quds University during the first semester of 2023-2024, using a proportionate sample stratified by specialization and educational level. A self-reported questionnaire consisted of five main sections: sociodemographic details, information on attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19, attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination, degree of willingness and hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccine, and lastly, sources of knowledge regarding COVID-19 vaccine. A linear logistic regression was performed to investigate associations between willingness and hesitancy to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and sociodemographic factors. Results: 66.1% of participants reported being very likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 22.8% were unsure, and 11.1% reported being very unlikely to be vaccinated. The major reason for vaccination hesitancy was insecurity due to the rapid development of the vaccine, concerns about COVID-19 vaccination, fear of needles, and distrust in vaccine against mutation. Whereas the essential reasons for vaccination motivation and acceptance ranged from fear of being infected with Covid-19, the desire to get back to normal life, and fear of transmitting the infection to family and others. Additionally, TV and radio were the main source of information regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: This study showed a high reluctant level among university students in health majors against COVID-19 vaccines. Providing correct information to the public through independent health organizations that are not associated with the ruling authority, particularly to university students, on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines is highly recommended.
Healthcare workers have been working on the frontlines since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. In Pa... more Healthcare workers have been working on the frontlines since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. In Palestine Healthcare workers have been experiencing compounded stress given their preexisting limited access and resources as imposed by the Israeli colonial system and their management of the novel coronavirus. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Palestinian healthcare workers’ mental health in relationship to various demographic variables that have been found to correlate to expressed distress in previous literature. Using brief online questionnaires, 596 healthcare workers from various professions rated their experiences of depression, anxiety and risk perception. Descriptive analysis was carried out to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that the overwhelming majority of our participants were experiencing depressive and anxious symptoms, with females, physicians, and less experienced Healthcare workers showing elevated levels of symptomology. It is recommended that psychological services be offered to healthcare workers in Palestine with specific emphasis on the identified risk factors.
من أهم أدوات نظريات علم النفس السيكودينامية هي المصطلحات التي تفسر لنا أنماط العلاقات الانسانية و... more من أهم أدوات نظريات علم النفس السيكودينامية هي المصطلحات التي تفسر لنا أنماط العلاقات الانسانية وآليات الدفاع التي تساعد الفرد على الحفاظ على التوازن الداخلي. من أجل الاستمرار في الوجود في عالم يفرض واقع ومبادئ تتعارض أحيانًا مع الرغبات والدوافع الداخلية. تتسم التجربة الفلسطينية تحت الاستعمار الاستيطاني الصهيوني باستخدام العديد من الآليات الدفاعية بين المستعمر والفلسطيني.
This study aims to explore the manifestation of internalized oppression (IO) among Palestinians r... more This study aims to explore the manifestation of internalized oppression (IO) among Palestinians residing in Jerusalem. IO refers to the phenomenon in which the oppressed come to understand themselves, their culture, their community, and their oppressors through the lens of the oppressing group (Williams, 2012). IO has been documented across multiple oppressed groups and has been linked to myriad negative emotions and psychological conditions, such as helplessness (Williams, 2012), mood and anxiety disorder (David, 2008), substance abuse (Swaim & Stanely, 2018), and domestic violence (Poupart, 2003). In 2012, Williams (2012) produced a thorough theoretical framework of the known facets of IO. Currently however, there are no known published studies exploring the manifestations and impact of IO within the Palestinian population.
Ten in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Jerusalemite Palestinian men and women in which various known facets of IO were explored. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, resulting in the emergence of 21 themes across eight domains: 1) Self Knowledge, 2) Naming of Reality, 3) Oppressive Construction of the Self, 4) Horizontal Hostility, 5) Ambivalent Relationships, 6)Dissimulation, 7) Emotions, and 8) Mental Health.
The findings of the current study align with Williams’ (2012) framework and expand on several of his existing categories.Our results suggest that IO has a negative impact on participants’ perception of themselves, their history, and their relationships with each other and with the colonizer. Participants manifested a robust internalized perception of inferiority and negativity in relation to their Palestinian identity and conveyed a powerful perception of an internalized superiority of the Israeli colonizer thereby demonstrating the state of duality that dominates the lives of the oppressed Jerusalemite native. The findings of this study are presented in the context of existing literature stemming from various oppressed communities.Given the strong evidence of IO found in this preliminary exploration, we recommend that this phenomenon be further explored through a large-scope multi-researcher and Participatory Action Projects. Clinically, this study underscores the urgent need for the recruitment and training of Palestinian mental health professionals and the development of socio-politically informed therapeutic interventions that engage both the individual and the community.
COVID-19 Vaccine Motivation, Willingness and Hesitancy of Health Majors University Students in Palestine, 2024
Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign hinges on the motivation and w... more Background: The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign hinges on the motivation and willingness of the general population to be vaccinated. The purpose of this research was to determine the motivation, willingness, and hesitancy of Al-Quds University students enrolled in health majors to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as to detect their attitude toward COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to target students in health majors at Al-Quds University during the first semester of 2023-2024, using a proportionate sample stratified by specialization and educational level. A self-reported questionnaire consisted of five main sections: sociodemographic details, information on attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19, attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination, degree of willingness and hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccine, and lastly, sources of knowledge regarding COVID-19 vaccine. A linear logistic regression was performed to investigate associations between willingness and hesitancy to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and sociodemographic factors. Results: 66.1% of participants reported being very likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 22.8% were unsure, and 11.1% reported being very unlikely to be vaccinated. The major reason for vaccination hesitancy was insecurity due to the rapid development of the vaccine, concerns about COVID-19 vaccination, fear of needles, and distrust in vaccine against mutation. Whereas the essential reasons for vaccination motivation and acceptance ranged from fear of being infected with Covid-19, the desire to get back to normal life, and fear of transmitting the infection to family and others. Additionally, TV and radio were the main source of information regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: This study showed a high reluctant level among university students in health majors against COVID-19 vaccines. Providing correct information to the public through independent health organizations that are not associated with the ruling authority, particularly to university students, on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines is highly recommended.
Healthcare workers have been working on the frontlines since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. In Pa... more Healthcare workers have been working on the frontlines since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. In Palestine Healthcare workers have been experiencing compounded stress given their preexisting limited access and resources as imposed by the Israeli colonial system and their management of the novel coronavirus. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Palestinian healthcare workers’ mental health in relationship to various demographic variables that have been found to correlate to expressed distress in previous literature. Using brief online questionnaires, 596 healthcare workers from various professions rated their experiences of depression, anxiety and risk perception. Descriptive analysis was carried out to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that the overwhelming majority of our participants were experiencing depressive and anxious symptoms, with females, physicians, and less experienced Healthcare workers showing elevated levels of symptomology. It is recommended that psychological services be offered to healthcare workers in Palestine with specific emphasis on the identified risk factors.
من أهم أدوات نظريات علم النفس السيكودينامية هي المصطلحات التي تفسر لنا أنماط العلاقات الانسانية و... more من أهم أدوات نظريات علم النفس السيكودينامية هي المصطلحات التي تفسر لنا أنماط العلاقات الانسانية وآليات الدفاع التي تساعد الفرد على الحفاظ على التوازن الداخلي. من أجل الاستمرار في الوجود في عالم يفرض واقع ومبادئ تتعارض أحيانًا مع الرغبات والدوافع الداخلية. تتسم التجربة الفلسطينية تحت الاستعمار الاستيطاني الصهيوني باستخدام العديد من الآليات الدفاعية بين المستعمر والفلسطيني.
This study aims to explore the manifestation of internalized oppression (IO) among Palestinians r... more This study aims to explore the manifestation of internalized oppression (IO) among Palestinians residing in Jerusalem. IO refers to the phenomenon in which the oppressed come to understand themselves, their culture, their community, and their oppressors through the lens of the oppressing group (Williams, 2012). IO has been documented across multiple oppressed groups and has been linked to myriad negative emotions and psychological conditions, such as helplessness (Williams, 2012), mood and anxiety disorder (David, 2008), substance abuse (Swaim & Stanely, 2018), and domestic violence (Poupart, 2003). In 2012, Williams (2012) produced a thorough theoretical framework of the known facets of IO. Currently however, there are no known published studies exploring the manifestations and impact of IO within the Palestinian population.
Ten in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Jerusalemite Palestinian men and women in which various known facets of IO were explored. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, resulting in the emergence of 21 themes across eight domains: 1) Self Knowledge, 2) Naming of Reality, 3) Oppressive Construction of the Self, 4) Horizontal Hostility, 5) Ambivalent Relationships, 6)Dissimulation, 7) Emotions, and 8) Mental Health.
The findings of the current study align with Williams’ (2012) framework and expand on several of his existing categories.Our results suggest that IO has a negative impact on participants’ perception of themselves, their history, and their relationships with each other and with the colonizer. Participants manifested a robust internalized perception of inferiority and negativity in relation to their Palestinian identity and conveyed a powerful perception of an internalized superiority of the Israeli colonizer thereby demonstrating the state of duality that dominates the lives of the oppressed Jerusalemite native. The findings of this study are presented in the context of existing literature stemming from various oppressed communities.Given the strong evidence of IO found in this preliminary exploration, we recommend that this phenomenon be further explored through a large-scope multi-researcher and Participatory Action Projects. Clinically, this study underscores the urgent need for the recruitment and training of Palestinian mental health professionals and the development of socio-politically informed therapeutic interventions that engage both the individual and the community.
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Ten in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Jerusalemite Palestinian men and women in which various known facets of IO were explored. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, resulting in the emergence of 21 themes across eight domains: 1) Self Knowledge, 2) Naming of Reality, 3) Oppressive Construction of the Self, 4) Horizontal Hostility, 5) Ambivalent Relationships, 6)Dissimulation, 7) Emotions, and 8) Mental Health.
The findings of the current study align with Williams’ (2012) framework and expand on several of his existing categories.Our results suggest that IO has a negative impact on participants’ perception of themselves, their history, and their relationships with each other and with the colonizer. Participants manifested a robust internalized perception of inferiority and negativity in relation to their Palestinian identity and conveyed a powerful perception of an internalized superiority of the Israeli colonizer thereby demonstrating the state of duality that dominates the lives of the oppressed Jerusalemite native. The findings of this study are presented in the context of existing literature stemming from various oppressed communities.Given the strong evidence of IO found in this preliminary exploration, we recommend that this phenomenon be further explored through a large-scope multi-researcher and Participatory Action Projects. Clinically, this study underscores the urgent need for the recruitment and training of Palestinian mental health professionals and the development of socio-politically informed therapeutic interventions that engage both the individual and the community.
Ten in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Jerusalemite Palestinian men and women in which various known facets of IO were explored. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, resulting in the emergence of 21 themes across eight domains: 1) Self Knowledge, 2) Naming of Reality, 3) Oppressive Construction of the Self, 4) Horizontal Hostility, 5) Ambivalent Relationships, 6)Dissimulation, 7) Emotions, and 8) Mental Health.
The findings of the current study align with Williams’ (2012) framework and expand on several of his existing categories.Our results suggest that IO has a negative impact on participants’ perception of themselves, their history, and their relationships with each other and with the colonizer. Participants manifested a robust internalized perception of inferiority and negativity in relation to their Palestinian identity and conveyed a powerful perception of an internalized superiority of the Israeli colonizer thereby demonstrating the state of duality that dominates the lives of the oppressed Jerusalemite native. The findings of this study are presented in the context of existing literature stemming from various oppressed communities.Given the strong evidence of IO found in this preliminary exploration, we recommend that this phenomenon be further explored through a large-scope multi-researcher and Participatory Action Projects. Clinically, this study underscores the urgent need for the recruitment and training of Palestinian mental health professionals and the development of socio-politically informed therapeutic interventions that engage both the individual and the community.